First Presbyterian Church is a congregation within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) denomination, where we stand alongside all Christians in our devotion to Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. As believers, we affirm the Nicene Creed and the Apostle's Creed, celebrating Christ as the Head of the Church and recognizing God's revelation in the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

At the heart of our faith is the belief in the Bible as the Word of God written, a unique and authoritative witness to Jesus Christ. We understand that where the Word is read and proclaimed, the Living Word, Jesus Christ, is present by the inward witness of the Holy Spirit.

Central to our Christian identity is the conviction that Jesus Christ is the reconciler of God and humanity. Through His death on the cross, He secured forgiveness for all sins, and through His resurrection, He offers new and eternal life. Our faith finds its beginning in the power of an open tomb and the revelation of a just and forgiving God.

Embracing the sovereignty of God, we affirm that God's purpose extends to every aspect of life, including arts, culture, politics, personal ethics, and societal ethics. We believe in the Kingdom of God as both an inner personal reality and an outward community shaped by God's grace, driving us towards missional involvement.

As Presbyterians, we recognize two sacraments instituted and endorsed by Jesus Christ: Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Baptism signifies our initiation into Christ and our cleansing by Him, embracing both adults and children nurtured in the Christian faith. The Lord's Supper reminds us of God's forgiving grace through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Our mission is to share the life and power of Jesus Christ through both our words and deeds, inviting all to embrace Him as Lord of all. Join us as we journey together in faith, guided by the love and grace of our Savior.

Our Presbyterian Tradition

The Presbyterian tradition has its roots in the Scottish Reformation. In 563, St. Columba brought the Christian faith from Ireland to Scotland, where it took root and flourished. In 1547, nearly one thousand years later, John Knox brought the Protestant Reformation to Scotland from Geneva, Switzerland, exclaiming from the depth of his evangelical zeal, “Give me Scotland, or I die.” The Reformed faith spread across Scotland, and it went on to greatly influence Christianity in America as waves of Scots immigrated to the New World. 

The Presbyterian church structure is governed by elected elders (presbyters) and connected to other churches in our local presbytery. Most Presbyterian churches also have deacons along with elders to govern the church’s compassion needs as well as to oversee the church’s worship and decision-making.

Our Guiding Confessions

Presbyterians are also guided by the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA), which consists of two parts, The Book of Confessions and the Book of Order. This guidance sets out for its members and the world to see what it believes and how it organizes itself, its officers and its members for ministry. In its confessions, the Church expresses the faith of the Reformed tradition.

The Book of Confessions contains the following confessions and statements of belief:

• The Nicene Creed
• The Apostles’ Creed
• The Scots Confession
• The Heidelberg Catechism
• The Second Helvetic Confession
• The Westminster Confession of Faith
• The Larger Catechism
• The Shorter Catechism
• The Theological Declaration of Barmen
• The Confession of 1967
• A Brief Statement of Faith—Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

The Book of Order has three sections: the Form of Government, the Directory for Worship, and Rules of Discipline.